Discrete sound cards aren't the essential PC component they used to be about a decade ago. Several forces such as Microsoft, Intel and upcoming semiconductor companies in Taiwan such as Realtek had then envisioned a day when the required processing power for audio would be completely at the disposal of the CPU, and that audio processing would have a very insignificant impact on CPU performance. Intel made the standards (such as AC'97, Azalia HD), Microsoft made the common software driver model, while semiconductor companies sold CODEC chips to motherboard manufacturers like pieces of toffee.

Today's discrete audio finds its way to an audiophiles, HTPC users willing to splurge, and enthusiasts. So features are all that matter. Creative recently released the X-Fi Titanium series of sound cards that offer native PCI-Express support while running a tweaked CA-20K series audio processor. They've done quite a bit, in propagating the "Xtreme Fidelity" technology beyond their own sound cards. Currently Auzentech, MSI and ASUS hold agreements with Creative to launch PC audio products, while Creative itself makes headphones with the X-Fi DSP, iPod docks and external sound cards. They could well be heading towards another sound card release, and as early as this Wednesday. Indications are, that this could well be an external sound device. Creative has already released two external cards based on the X-Fi technology, though not much is known about this device.

I hate Creative just as much as the next person, but my Xtrememusic actually works in Vista x64. I only use it to listen to music, if I really gamed it'd be a different story... My friend has a Bluegears C-media chip sound card, and his barely works in vista. Depending on the audio source it will cut channels and change settings in a very, very bad way. Really Vista is just an all-around PITA when it comes to sound... but my Creative is pathetically the best experience I've had with a discrete sound card to this point (on Vista).

I hate Creative just as much as the next person, but my Xtrememusic actually works in Vista x64. I only use it to listen to music, if I really gamed it'd be a different story... My friend has a Bluegears C-media chip sound card, and his barely works in vista. Depending on the audio source it will cut channels and change settings in a very, very bad way. Really Vista is just an all-around PITA when it comes to sound... but my Creative is pathetically the best experience I've had with a discrete sound card to this point (on Vista).

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I also have had no issues whatsoever with my card except in Linux since the driver doesn't install at all, OSS has support for it, but its minimal (No OS noises, so flash audio, etc.)

About creative support for vista, i have an xfi fatal1ty and support for vista is 100%, even has some little extra features on the control panel that xp didn't had...
Its my second creative card and my next will be creative as well, but im so satisfied with this one that it wont be any soon, but still the current fatal1ty generation looks great and sounds probably better than mine...

It shouldnt have to be a work around in the dsp and the drivers to get it to do EAX3.0 and above. Thats the whole gripe with Creative. I really want to go to Vista, but then I have to get the emulator software to get EAX to work.

I dont understand why there is so much hate with Creative. Ive never had a problem with their hardware. Usually if something happens to my sound I just reboot and if that doesnt fix it just reinstall the driver and its fixed. Ive been using them for years on multiple computers with no problems. The only issue I had with Vista (which has now been fixed) was with having 4GB of ram you would get that crackling noise and what would sound like very loud white noise.

Those ppl are referring to old models like the audigy ones in which they have to use alchemy or whatever those drivers are called, in part cause they want you to buy their brand new xfi hardware, but considering its age, even i upgraded from an audigy 2 to an xfi even before vista came...

Well ppl bought their hardware for quite some money, even more if they own an extigy or platinum card and would like to have their hardware to last at least until it dies on them, i would to, but still I got some money back from my audigy 2 and bought the xi-fi soon when they came out, i was satisfied but wanted a little more and so...

In fact i did have a x-fail xtreme music,which was beutiful on xp.All the eax worked fine,but on vista hardly any of the software worked right,i had to use alchemy just so the eax kinda works,but not in hardware.I just got sick of it,and my onboard sound works in all my games and no errors ever.

Just remember guys,its was not just creatives fault.Microsoft changed the way audio is handled in vista,that does not excuse creative for taking sooo long to release drivers that work sort of for the old x-fails and then they release the titanium series mmmmmmm...............

Discrete sound cards aren't the essential PC component they used to be about a decade ago. Several forces such as Microsoft, Intel and upcoming semiconductor companies in Taiwan such as Realtek had then envisioned a day when the required processing power for audio would be completely at the disposal of the CPU, and that audio processing would have a very insignificant impact on CPU performance. Intel made the standards (such as AC'97, Azalia HD), Microsoft made the common software driver model, while semiconductor companies sold CODEC chips to motherboard manufacturers like pieces of toffee.

Today's discrete audio finds its way to an audiophiles, HTPC users willing to splurge, and enthusiasts. So features are all that matter. Creative recently released the X-Fi Titanium series of sound cards that offer native PCI-Express support while running a tweaked CA-20K series audio processor. They've done quite a bit, in propagating the "Xtreme Fidelity" technology beyond their own sound cards. Currently Auzentech, MSI and ASUS hold agreements with Creative to launch PC audio products, while Creative itself makes headphones with the X-Fi DSP, iPod docks and external sound cards. They could well be heading towards another sound card release, and as early as this Wednesday. Indications are, that this could well be an external sound device. Creative has already released two external cards based on the X-Fi technology, though not much is known about this device.

unless I misread that statement - MSI and ASUS are now cooperating with Creative as well?

Holy shit

Holy shit!

Creative - playing nice with others . . . opening up their technology to other manufacturers?

I will say, though, Creative seem to have been making quite an effort over the last few months to straighten out their act. We've seen more driver releases, both alpha and beta within the last 5 months, than we have within the last 3 years.